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The first time he met the Princess Zelda in this life, she was wrapped in the lazy summer afternoon sun and the trappings of her title. The sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows of the throne room, pooling in little puddles of colorful light. Glancing upwards, he saw account after account of their historical struggles. In each one, good triumphed over evil. How typical of them.
The clinking of jewelry and armor followed behind him at a steady, measured pace. Twelve of his sisters had come to act as a diplomatic envoy.
Ganondorf had decided; this time would be different, more of a silk glove than a blade hanging over their throats. He had brought unimaginable luxuries, a willingness to reopen trade with Hyrule, and his most pleasant, charming self. The princess would be too tantalized by the veritable buffet of windfalls that she would forget the one, very small drawback: himself, the prospective enemy.
Though Zelda wouldn't know any better. They hadn't met yet in this life, and judging by the look of polite interest, she hadn't recognized what he was. He hoped her advisors were lackluster enough that they would allow the fox into the hen house without raising the alarm.
This one was different from the others, physically. Her hair was par for the course, an average umber, but her skin and eyes were paler than any of her predecessors. For one so young, there was an unnerving amount of compartmentalization behind the professionally friendly demeanor. The whole affect was disconcerting, like the very spirit of knowledge itself was sitting on the throne, not a human. He idly wondered what had happened between this time and the last to elicit such a sharp pivot in protocol.
Zelda's stormy eyes regarded him inquisitorially. She wondered why the envoy had made the journey here on such short notice. The Gerudo desert was so far flung, only traders and the Gerudo themselves traveled to it. In fact, as they were perfectly capable of electing their own chiefs, most kings and queens of Hyrule left them well alone.
All of that to say, that they only sent a week's notice ahead before undertaking an arbitrarily timed and dangerous course of travel. It was odd.
The entire party was as strange a hodgepodge as their actions: twelve and one. The women were all educated, skilled workers of diverse businesses and trades. They were dressed as such in fine silk outfits embellished with golden thread and precious stones. Only two soldiers were among them, how strange!
The other one, well she wasn't sure what to make of him. He was strange, and Zelda felt strangely about him. There was a pull, a foreign curiosity, and a far stronger push, the animal part of her couldn't stand looking at him. The hairs of her neck stood on end.
He stopped 10 meters shy of the dias and dropped to one knee, bowing deeply over it. The rest of the party moved in sync with him.
Then, he spoke and the princess became even more unnerved. "Your highness, we are the handpicked representatives of the Gerudo. We bring good tidings and material goods. It is our greatest hope that our nations may work together after so many years of squabbling."
She smothered the extraneous panic rising in her chest and masked it with a brittle nonchalance. "Well met good sir, I trust your journey was untroublesome?"
He raised his head from where it had hung. She could've sworn his golden gaze sizzled. "As unchallenging as one such as it can be. Though your people were...less than hospitable. Many a night we were forced to sleep in the fields by unsympathetic inn keeps."
How interesting, she thought, that he would feel the need and comfort to say such quarrelsome thing without blunting his words, and to her, of all people, about her subjects, in her throne room. She would have to correct him before he made such a dire error again in the wrong room. "I see...I am sure you are aware of our shared history. I will see to it that something is done, however such things run deep. I am sure you have some of your own feelings about Hylians."
Ganondorf felt ire of his sisters lapping at his back. For being the bearer of wisdom, this Zelda was incredibly skilled at putting her foot in her mouth. In the name of diplomacy, potentially offensive remarks were usually kept tucked away in one's own mind. Clearly, she had not learned that yet.
If it were a hundred years earlier, Ganondorf likely would have slain her right then and there. But with age, his temper had become mollified. There was more to life than just the triforce and his pride. This new, diplomatic approach would benefit his people for centuries to come if he could pull it off. Wasting such an extraordinary chance just to spill an ignorant princess's blood wasn't worth it.
"Your majesty, putting any feelings I may have on your people aside, we have traveled many leagues. My sisters and I are exhausted."
A faint wave of surprise showed itself in a twitch of her brows. "Yes of course, you may be dismissed now. A member of my staff will show you to your quarters."
As he rose, Ganondorf continued to look upon the Princess Zelda. At least this time around would be interesting.
The first time Ganondorf truly met Zelda in this life, it was a freezing winter's night.
The courtyard's normally resplendent display was a subdued, leafless affair. The burbling fountain in the center had been shut off, leaving the garden eerily quiet. The moon, a soft silvery crescent, illuminated the ground below just enough that the marble benches could fluoresce. He knew she had to be out here somewhere, the staff had seen her storm this way. Away from the incredibly pressing and important meeting currently being held at her behest.
There, out by the evergreen rose bush he had enchanted for her birthday. She was merely a silhouette to him, but even then he could pick out her delicate features. This incarnation was, regrettably, starting to grow on him. Her thin fingers lightly grazed the bloom closest to her.
"Your majesty, I would not advise being out in such weather without furs." Zelda vacantly turned to him, halfway through with chewing a hole in her lip. "I will be fine, Lord Dragmire, do not concern yourself with things such as my health." He drew closer to her, boots crunching in the light snow. "Surely your slippers must be soaked..." She sighed sharply and finally looked him in the eye, "As I said, Lord Dragmire, this matter is not within your purview. You may go back to the council and tell them I will only be five minutes more." As if to underline the blatant disregard for her own health, a shiver zipped through the princess's body. A soft smirk split Ganondorf's faux serious demeanor. "Very well your majesty, however if you insist on being out here any longer, I, as your minister, must take some measures to ensure your continued good health and hopeful longevity."
He dexterously undid the cloak clasp at his throat and draped the fur lined monstrosity over Zelda's shoulders. Her hands came up to clutch the collar, curiosity overtaking her irritation. She looked up at him with wonder, "This is enchanted, and well at that. Someday, I should like to meet whomever among your sisters crafted this." He cocked a brow at her, enjoying the praise. "Thank you, it was by my hand the magic was woven. That cloak has kept me warm and comfortable in environments a man shouldn't survive. Please, feel free to avail yourself of it whenever you so please your majesty." She nodded gracefully, not meeting his eyes, "I can't imagine robbing you of such a valuable thing, Lord Dragmire, even if it is under the guise of a gift."
An awkward, yet companionable, silence fell between the two. He stared at her openly, appreciating the comedic effect of her petite Hylian frame swallowed up by a goliath's cloak. Despite his initial misgivings, he was starting to like this one better than the others. Maybe it was because she wasn't actively trying to either kill him herself or have her snot nosed whelp do the dirty work.
Zelda turned, pretending to examine the nearest rose. If Ganondorf was one thing, he was a masterful sorcerer. When the mysteriously lumpy package had arrived in her study, it was one of the most exciting things that had ever happened to the princess. Her mind raced; court intrigue, a suitor, or perhaps even a prospective courtesan. But, upon opening, a note made itself known. The paper was a delicate pink and slightly floral, "Princess Zelda, I wish the most joyous birthday and wish you continue to mark the occasion so long as these blooms live. Your advisor, Lord Ganondorf Dragmire."
She glanced up at the man next to her. Good Hylia, he was so different from anyone else she had ever met. The top of her head barely brushed his bosom, and he was half as wide as she was tall! She jumped and looked away. He had caught her staring.
Words jumped from her tongue before she could think to stop them, desperate to distract him, "Lord Dragmire, do you think I was too harsh to Minister Lossi? I worry I may have offended him." He shifted his weight, leaning into his right hip, and brought his fingers to his bearded chin. "Your majesty, to what standard of diplomacy would you prefer my answer adhere to?" She looked at him, thoughtfully, "Be honest as you like, Lord Dragmire. I will not have you executed for an opinion." The corners of his mouth twitched up, "Then, Princess, you may simply call me Ganondorf as I will speak to you as a friend." She swallowed hard and nodded, feeling a strange sensation rising in her stomach. The princess had often called others by their true names, but never had any of them spoken to her as a friend.
He sighed and shook his head, "Yes, your majesty, I do think you were stern with the minister." Although her posture and carriage were impeccable, he could see her shoulders deflating slightly. "But by no means do I think your behavior was 'too harsh.' All night he has been disrespectful and arrogant. Honestly, if I were you, I would have snapped on him after the first hour, much less going on three. You, your majesty, are much more patient than I." The princess nodded seriously, lip caught between her teeth again. "How would you recommend I handle him, going forward?"
He thought for a moment, "In my opinion, the matter has been resolved for now. He has been embarrassed enough for today and I doubt he will risk it again." Ganondorf nodded, satisfied with his answer, the topaz studs in his ears catching the moon's bright beams. The princess radiantly smiled up at him. "Thank you, Ganondorf. Your counsel is much appreciated." He had never personally heard his given name roll off her lips, any of them. He decided it wasn't something he minded. "Of course, my liege. I think we have taken far more than five minutes away from our colleagues. May I escort you back?"
Her cheeks became slightly pink, but with her complexion it looked like wine being spilled on a white table cloth. He proffered his arm to her. She took it and nodded harshly, "Yes, thank you, Lord Dragmire."
That night, he would lay in bed thinking of how warm she was against the side of his body. In a year, Ganondorf would wonder how he had so quickly become such a besotted fool.